Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish did, and what he saw was...fire.
I know, it sounds intense. But listen to how he described it. The Torah that God gave us, he said, its parchment was white fire, written with black fire. It is fire, hewn from fire, completely formed of fire, and given in fire! As it says in Deuteronomy 33:2, "From His right, a fiery law to them." So, what does that mean?
Now, let’s turn to the Song of Songs, or Shir HaShirim in Hebrew, a beautiful and often enigmatic book. Chapter 5, verse 12 reads, "His eyes are like doves beside streams of water; they are bathed in milk, well set.” What could this poetic imagery possibly tell us about the Torah?
Well, the rabbis in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a classic midrashic commentary, find profound meaning in these verses. "His eyes are like doves," they say, referring to the Sanhedrin, the ancient Jewish high court. The Sanhedrin, in this interpretation, are the eyes of the congregation. Just as we read in Numbers 15:24, "It shall be if from the eyes of the congregation [it was performed unwittingly]..." This verse outlines the law for a sin-offering required when the Sanhedrin makes an error that the community then follows. : just like your body depends on your eyes, Israel depends on its Sanhedrin. There are two hundred and forty-eight limbs in a person, and all of them follow the eyes, the midrash states. Similarly, Israel can’t do anything without its Sanhedrin. Powerful, isn’t it?
And what about those "streams of water"? According to Rabbi Hama bar Ukva, these represent the waters of Torah, fortifying those who engage with it with proper devotion. The sages of the Sanhedrin are strengthened by their deep immersion in Torah.
Then comes the image of being "bathed in milk." This, the midrash explains, represents the halakhot – the Jewish laws – that the sages clarify with their "teeth" until they are as pure and clear as milk. They delve into these laws, examining them from every angle until their understanding is lucid and readily explainable. Some interpretations suggest the term "teeth" (shinayim) alludes to studying in pairs (shenayim) until clarity is achieved.
Finally, "well set [al milet]" is interpreted as "with the fullness [mele’atah] of Torah." The Sanhedrin, through their diligent study and profound understanding, embody the very fullness of the Torah.
So, what can we take away from this? The Torah is more than just words on parchment; it's a living fire, a source of constant renewal and insight. And those who dedicate themselves to its study, like the members of the Sanhedrin, become vessels for its wisdom, guiding us with eyes that are clear, compassionate, and filled with the fullness of Torah.
Perhaps next time you open the Torah, you might just catch a glimpse of that fire yourself.